Bracelet means having a related clasp means, and method of assembling same



Nov. 26, 1968 A. E. SAUER 3,412,577

BRACELET MEANS HAVING A RELATED CLASP MEANS AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLINGSAME Filed June 26, 1964 A TTOR/VE) United States Patent 3,412 577BRACELET MEANS HAVING A RELATED CLASP MEANS, AND METHOD OF ASSEM- BLINGSAME Alfred Eugene Sauer, Warwick, R.I., assignor to B. A. Ballou & Co.,Inc., Providence, R.I., a corporation of Rhode Island Filed June 26,1964, Ser. No. 378,260 9 Claims. (Cl. 63-7) The present inventionrelates to articles of jewelry such as bracelets worn as objects ofpersonal adornment and relates more particularly, to a novel andimproved method and means for constructing such articles.

It is common in the manufacture of items of jewelry such as bracelets tosolder the various elements in place. Taking a bracelet normally wornabout the wrist, by way of example, the bracelet may be comprised of apair of arcuate sections hinged together at one of the respective endsthereof and provided with suitable clasp means at the other end of eachof the arcuate sections. Thus, the two sections, when assembled, form acircular member or bracelet which may be opened by releasing the claspand expanding the members apart on the hinges. Similarly, the braceletis locked on the wrist of the wearer by squeezing the two sectionstogether until the clasp means engage. It is rather obvious that thehinges and clasp elements must be firmly aflixed to the arcuate sectionsin order to provide a durable and lasting article of jewelry.

In the past it has been the usual approach, when constructing articlesof jewelry exemplified in the foregoing example, to solder the variouselements such as the hinges and clasp elements to the arcuate sections.This, of course, is a time consuming process requiring skilled labor.Moreover, soldering is not always completely reliable since impuritieson the surface of the work, for instance, may cause a soldered interfaceto fail thereby permitting the constituent parts to break away.

With the foregoing in mind it is one object of the present invention toprovide an improved method for constructing articles of jewelry.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a positive lockwhich may be assembled rapidly and easily in position to hold anattached element in an operative position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a locking deviceadapted to be seated in position in a channel member, which said lockingdevice is effective to prevent lateral and axial movement of elementattached thereto.

Yet, an additional object of the present invention is to provide alocking device which is simple in action and which is, nevertheless,durable and reliable in use.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the method involving the severalsteps and the apparatus possessing the construction of elements andarrangement of parts which are exemplified in the following detaileddisclosure, and the scope of the application of which will be indicatedin the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view of an embodiment of a bracelet incorporating thelocking device of the present invention, the bracelet being illustratedin its unclapsed or open position for purposes of clarity.

FIGURE 2 is a view taken along lines 22 of FIG- URE 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows, certain 3,412,577 Patented Nov. 26, 1968 iceparts being broken away to show the locking devices in position.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2 lookingin the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view illustrating the several elementscomprising one of the locking units of the bracelet of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is an exploded view similar to FIGURE 4 illustrating theseveral elements comprising the mating locking unit of the bracelet ofFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a section of the braceletwith parts broken away to illustrate the corrogated member in position.

Before proceeding with a detailed description of the present invention,it should be mentioned that while the locking device of the instantinvention is illustrated and described in operative relationship with abracelet it will have equal application and utilization in otherenvironments wherever it is desirable to lock a unit within a channelmember having opposing side walls.

Turning now to a detailed description of the drawing with initialreference to FIGURE 1, the numeral 10 designates a generally circularbracelet of the type to be worn about the wrist of a human as an item ofpersonal adornment, or for identication, or like purposes. The bracelet10 is constituted of a pair of generally semicircular channel-shapedrigid members 11 and 11A which are hinged together at the respectiverear sections at 12 for limited rocking movement relative to each other.By means of such rocking movement the bracelet can be opened to passaround the wrist of the wearer and can be closed onto the wearers wrist.

With attention now to FIGURES 2, 3, 4 and 5, there is illustratedtherein the companion locking units accommodated in bracelet members 11and 11A respectively. It will be appreciated that the correspondingparts of the two locking units are similar in construction. Thus, in thefollowing description the corresponding parts of the mating lockingunits supported in members 11 and 11A will carry the same referencenumerals. However, for clarity, the parts of the locking unit ofbracelet member 11A having a counterpart in member 11 will also carrythe suflix A to distinguish them. Thus, in FIG- URE 2 it is seen thatchannel member 11 is provided with parallel side walls 13 and 14.Corresponding side walls are formed in channel member 11A and arereferenced at 13A and 14A. A web section 17 is provided integrally withside walls 13 and 14, this web section 17 being, desirably, seamless toprovide a flat, comfortable surface communicating with the wrist of thewearer. A similar web section 17A is integral with side walls 13A and14A of channel member 11A. The upper margins of side walls 13 and 14 arefolded inwardly to provide opposing guide tracks 19 and 20 (see FIGURES3, 4 and 5). In the same manner, side walls 13A and 14A are foldedinwardly along their opposing upper margins to provide guide tracks 19Aand 20A as shown in FIGURE 5.

Reverting again to FIGURE 3, guide tracks 19 and 20 act to retain anarcuate cover plat 24 in position. Thus, cover plate 24 extends parallelto web section 17, the cover plate 24 serving as the top wall of channelmember 11 in the same fashion that web section 17 serves as the bottomwall thereof. As seen in FIGURES l, 2, 4, 5 and 6, a corrugated member25 may be provided in the zone between cover plate 24 and web section17. The alternating ridges and grooves of corrugated member 25 bear onthe inner surface of web section 17 and cover plate 24 and urge thecover plate into engagement with respective tracks 19 and 20. A coverplate 24A is arranged in channel member 11A in the same manner as justrelated with respect to companion channel member 11.

Arcuate cover plate 24A extends parallel to web section 17A, and is heldfrom upward displacement by tracks 19A and 20A. A further corrugatedmember A is positioned in the zone between web section 17A and coverplate 24A to hold the cover plate 24A in engagement with tracks 19A and20A.

It will be appreciated that, while the channel members which areillustrated and which have been described are constituted of a pluralityof pieces, i.e., channel sections and cover plates, these members couldreadily be of one piece construction such as would be provided byextruding tube to conform to the enclosed shape of the channel membersgenerally illustrated in the crosssectional view of FIGURE 3.

With attention now to FIGURES 2, 3, 4 and 5, the

locking device of channel member 11 includes a shank fitted in thefrontal opening channel member 11, said shank 30, being bowed or curvedalong its longitudinal extension to conform with the radius of curvatureof the arcuate configuration of channel member 11. A similar shank 30Ais provided for the locking device of channel member 11A. The front endof each shank 30 and 39A constitutes a wall 32 and 32A, respectively,fully enclosing the frontal opening of respective channel members 11 and11A. The front wall 32 of shank 30 has opposing horizontal ears 33 and34 bent rearwardly from the opposite side margins thereof, these earsbeing so placed as to engage tightly against the inside surfaces of theopposing side walls 13 and 14 of channel member 11. In the same mannerthe front wall 32A of shank 30A has opposing ears 33A, 34A bentrearwardly so as to engage the opposite side walls 13-A, 14A of channelmember 11A. Moreover, front wall 32 has a pair of tabs 35 and 36, andfront wall 32A has a pair of tabs 35A, 36A depending from the oppositeouter edges thereof. The tabs 35, 36 and 35A and 36A seat in notches 37,38, 37A, 38A, respectively, cut out of the front edge of each of therespective web sections 17 and 17A. In this way the limits of insertionof shanks 30, 30A into their associated channel members 11 and 11A areestablished. Further, the front walls 32, 32A are positioned to blend insmoothly with the surfaces forming the frontal openings of associatedchannel members 11 and 11A so that the person wearing the bracelet andher clothing will not become injured by sharp edges which couldotherwise exist.

The front walls 32, 32A of each locking device is provided with anaperture 40, 40A, respectively, extending therethrough. As seen inFIGURES 2 and 5, the aperture 40A in the front wall 32A of the lockingdevice fitted within channel member 11A has a tongue 42 projectingtherethrough and extending somewhat beyond the front wall 32A. Tongue 42is connected integrally to an elongated plate 44 bent arcuately to layfiat on the top surface of shank 30A. The rear section of plate 44 has awindow or opening therein at 46. A finger 48A is pressed up from shank30A to pass through opening 46 and be bent around the rear frame of theopening. Tongue 42 is dimensioned to fit snugly in aperture 40A, andthis snug fit accompanied by the gripping of plate 44 by finger 48A actsto hold the tongue 42 and plate 44 securely in position on shank 30A. Itwill be seen in FIGURES 2 and 5, that the forward end of tongue 42 has arecess 50 therein, this recess being smaller than the width of theforward edge of said tongue 42.

With attention now to channel member 11 as illustrated in FIGURES 2 and4, the finger 48 of shank 30 of the locking device of that particularchannel member is employed to engage the rear end of a member 52. Saidmember 52 is generally U-shaped in plan and is constructed of resilientmaterial. The opposing legs 53 and 54 of member 52 bear on the internalsurfaces of side walls 13 and 14, respectively. The forward end of leg54 has a hook or catch 55 formed therein. This catch 55 is in registerwith the aperture 40 through the front wall 32 of the locking device.Further, catch 55 is in alignment with the recess 50 of togue 42 sothat, as channel members 11 and 11A are closed catch 55 enters recess 50and snaps under the front wall 75 of tongue 42. In consequence thereofthe two channel members are positively clasped or locked together. Arelease bar 56 is formed integrally with leg 54 and projects laterallythrough a port 58 provided through side wall 14. Release of catch 55from front wall 75 of tongue 42 is effected by depressing release bar56. This causes catch 55 to move toward the medial line of member 52 sothat the catch can be unclas ed and freed from recess 50 of tongue 4-2.

In FIGURES 2 and 4, it will be seen that the rearward margin of shank 30is bifurcated to define a pair of legs 60 and 62, the rearward terminalends of which are bent upwardly to form posts 64 and 66, respectively.In like manner the rear end of shank 30A is provided with legs 60A, 62A,the terminal ends thereof being bent upward to form posts 64A, 66A,respectively. A metal strip 68 bridges the span between legs 60 and 62,see FIGURE 4. This strip has a vertical ear 70 turned upwardly therefromso that said vertical car '70 lays intermediate the two posts 64 and 66,and lays somewhat forward of the two posts. Thus, the zone between posts64, 66 and car 70 constitutes a (first) pocket for receiving a resilientor spring-like bar shaped fastener 72. Similarly, a metal strip 68Aspans the space between legs 60A, 62A. A vertical ear 70A is upturnedfrom strip 68A. Said ear vertical 70A lays intermediate of and forwardlyof posts 64A, 66A, thereby defining a zone or pocket between said posts64A, A, and said ear A for the reception of fastener 72A constructed inthe same manner as fastener 72. Each fastener 72, 72A is slightly bowedin the plane of its long axis and is seated in the aforesaid pocketbetween respective posts 64, 66 and 64A, 66A and respective ears 70-,70A so that its convex surface arches away from the associated frontwall 32, 32A. The linear dimension of resilient fasteners 72, 72A issomewhat greater than the space between side walls 13, 14 of channelmember 11, or side walls 13A, 14A of channel member 11A. Therefore,resilient fasteners 72, 72A will slide readily into the clearancebetween the associated side walls of channel members 11 and 11A. Yet,any attempt to remove the locking devices from said channel members willforce the opposite ends of the respective resilient fastener 72 or 72Ato unbow and to bind more tightly on its related side walls therebypreventing either lateral or longitudinal movement of the lockingdevice. Moreover, the locking device of the present invention, by virtueof the advantageous arrangement whereby the opposite ends of theresilient fasteners 72, 72A bind on the side walls 13, 14, 13A, 14A, ofmembers 11 and 11A, respectively, assisted by the unique positioning offorward walls 32, 32A through the respective tabs and notches andopposing ears to fully enclose the frontal portions of the associatedchannel members and bear on the side wall, web, and cover plate thereof,effectively fix the locking devices and the clasp members connectedtherewith against any longitudinal or lateral movement relative to therespective channel members in which they are seated.

In assembling a bracelet of the type illustrated it is necessary only toinsert the locking device, one with the tongue 42 aflixed thereto andthe other with catch 55 affixed thereto, as described, into theappropriate channel member until tabs 35, 36 and 35A, 36A seat in therespective notches 37, 38 and 37A, 38A, and the opposing ears 33, 34,33A, 34A engage the respective tracks 19, 20, 19A, 20A. Once the lockingdevices are seated therein the members are secured for operation toclasp and unclasp the bracelet 10.

It will thus be apparent that the instant invention provides a new andnovel means for constructing jewelry articles such as bracelets, so asto provide a positive locking means without utilizing conventionalsoldering techniques. Moreover, the locking devices are constructed withself-seating tabs which avoid the necessity for constant adjustment.Furthermore, the end plates advantageously conceal the mechanicalmembers of the locking device, enhancing the appearance of the braceletwhile adding strength and rigidity to the bracelet when the bracelet islocked in its closed position.

While the locking device of the present invention has been shown anddescribed operatively associated with a tongue and latch unit, it shouldbe understood that the locking device has broad applications beyond thatillustrated. By way of example, it would be obvious to employ similarlocking devices to hold the mating hinge sections of hinge 12 of thebracelet in place. Thus, the instant locking device may be appliedwherever articles required a locking means, said articles being providedwith opposite side walls, with but a minimum of modification to thepresent invention.

In this application there is shown and described only the preferredembodiment of the invention simply by way of illustration of thepreferred mode of carrying out the invention. It will be readilyapparent, however, that the drawing and description herein are merelyillustrative in nature and are not intended to limit the scope of theinvention.

What I claim is:

1. A method for constructing a bracelet or the like comprising,providing a pair of mating generally semicircular channel members havingoppositely disposed side walls, frontal openings and rear sections,hinging said pair of members together at the respective rear sections,providing a pair of shanks, each having a radius of curvature conformingto the curvature of said channel members, providing a front wall portionat the front edge of each shank of sufiicient dimension to occupy thefull frontal opening of each said channel member, providing an aperturethrough each front wall portion, mounting a catch on one of said shanksin alignment with its respective aperture, providing a catch receiver onthe other of said shanks, providing a pocket adjacent the rear edge ofeach said shank, seating a resilient fastener element of greater lengththan the width between said side walls, the straight line distancebetween the ends of each fastener being greater than said width; in eachsaid pocket, and finally pressing each said shank into a respectivechannel member until each said front wall portion occupies itsrespective frontal opening, whereby said catch is disposed in registerwith said catch receiver and each said fastener element presses againstthe side walls of its respective channel member to lock each said shankin its channel member.

2. A method for constructing a bracelet or the like comprising,providing a pair of mating generally semi-circular channel membershaving oppositely disposed side walls, frontal openings, rear sections,and guide tracks formed along the outer longitudinal margins, hingingsaid pair of members together at the respective rear sections, insertinga cover member in each of said guide tracks to form an outer wall foreach said channel member, providing a pair of shanks, each having aradius of curvature conforming to the curvature of said channel members,providing a front wall portion at the front edge of each shank ofsufiicient dimension to occupy the full frontal opening of each saidchannel member, providing an aperture through each front wall portion,mounting a catch on one of said shanks in alignment with its respectiveaperture, providing a catch receiver on the other of said shanks inalignment with its respective aperture, providing a pocket adjacent therear edge of each said shank, seating an arcuate resilient fastenerelement of greater length than the width and having a rearward convexsurface and a forward concave surface'between said side walls, thestraight line distance between the ends of each said fastener beinggreater than said width, in each said pocket, positioning each saidarcuate member in its respective pocket with said convex surface facingrearwardly of said shank and with said concave surface facing towardsaid front wall portion, and finally pressing each said shank into arespective channel member until each said forward wall portion occupiesits respective frontal opening whereby said catch is disposed inregister with said catch receiver and each said fastener element pressesagainst the side walls of its respective channel member to lock eachsaid shank in its channel member.

3. In a device of the class described, a pair of mating generallysemi-circular members having opposing side walls, a web section joiningsaid side walls todefine a channel between said side walls, each saidchannel having a front opening and rear end, hinge means joining saidmembers together at their respective rear ends, a separate shankpositioned in each said channel proximate to the front opening of eachsaid member, each shank having a front wall portion of dimension fullyoccupying a respective front opening of said member, each said frontwall portion having an aperture therein, a catch mounted on one of saidshanks in alignment with one of said apertures, a tongue connected tothe other of said shanks and protruding through the aperture in thefront wall portion thereof, a catch receiver formed in the forward endof said tongue, a pocket formed at the end of each shank remote fromsaid front wall portion, a resilient fastener positioned in each pocket,each said fastener being of greater length than the width between theadjacent side walls, the straight line distance between the ends of eachsaid fastener being greater than said width, whereby said fastenerpresses against said side walls to lock each said shank in itsrespective member, said catch and catch receiver being in register tointerconnect said mating members when said pair of members are squeezedtogether, and means for releasing said catch from said catch receiver.

4. In a device of the class described, a pair of mating generallysemi-circular members having opposing side walls, a web joining saidside walls at their base to define a channel between said side walls;each said channel having a front opening, a rear end, and a guide trackformed along the upper margins of each pair of opposing side walls; acover disposed adjacent each pair of side walls, each said coverextending coterminously with a respective one of said members, hingemeans joining said members together at their rear ends, a separate shankpositioned in each said channel proximate to the front opening of eachsaid member; each said shank having a front wall portion of dimensionfor contacting said side walls, said web, and said cover portion tothereby fully occupy the front opening of said related member; each saidfront wall portion having a pair of ears extending therefrom to engage aportion of said side walls, a pair of tabs depending from each saidfront wall portion, a pair of notches formed in each said web forreceiving said tabs, each said front wall portion having an aperturetherein, a catch mounted on one of said shanks in alignment with one ofsaid apertures, a tongue connected to the other of said shanks andprotruding through the aperture in the front wall portion thereof, acatch receiver formed in the forward end of said tongue, a pocket formedto the end of each shank remote from said front wall portion, a pair ofresilient fasteners of arcuate shape and of greater length than thewidth between the side walls, the straight line distance between theends of each said fastener being greater than said width, adjacentthereto, said arcuate fastener having a convex rear surface and aconcave front surface, each said fastener being positioned in arespective one of said pockets with its convex surface facing rearwardlyand its concave surface facing toward said front wall portion to therebypress against said adjacent walls to lock each said shank in itsrespective member, said catch and catch receiving means being inregister to interconnect said mating members when said pair of membersare squeezed together, and means for releasing said catch from saidcatch receiver.

5. In a device of the class described, a pair of mating generallysemi-circular members having opposing side walls, a web section joiningsaid side walls at their base to define a channel between said sidewalls, each said channel having a front opening and a rear end, hingemeans joining said members together at their respective rear ends, aseparate shank positioned in each said channel proximate to the frontopening of each members, each shank having a front wall portion ofdimensions to fully occupy the front opening of its associated member,each said front wall portion having an aperture therein, a catch mountedon one of said shanks in alignment with one of said apertures, a tongueconnected to the other of said shanks and protruding through theaperture in the front wall portion thereof, a catch receiver formed inthe forward end of said tongue, a pair of legs extending rearwardly fromeach said shank, the terminal portion of said legs being upturned todefine spaced posts, a section spanning said legs, an upstanding earprojecting from said section disposed intermediate said posts, aresilient fastener seated between said posts and said ear of each shank,said fastener being of greater length than the width between theadjacent side walls, the straight line distance between the ends of eachsaid fastener being greater than said width whereby said fastenerpresses against said side walls to lock each said shank in itsrespective member, said catch receiver being in register to interconnectsaid mating members when said members are squeezed together, and a leverextending laterally from said catch through said side wall to releasesaid catch from said catch receiver.

6. A locking device for securing a component to a member having opposingfixed parallel side walls comprising, an elongated shank, a tab upturnedfrom the surface of said shank for engaging with said component to holdsaid component on the surface of said shank, a front wall for saidshank, said front wall having an aperture therethrough for accommodatingan operative portion of said component, a pair of legs extendingrearwardly from said shank, the rear terminal edges of said legs beingupturned to provide a pair of spaced posts, a web section spanning saidlegs, an ear upturned from said web section and disposed forwardly ofsaid legs whereby to define a pocket between said ear and said posts, aresilient fastener positioned in said pocket, said resilient fastenerbeing of greater length than the width between said side walls thestraight line distance between the ends of said fastener being greaterthan the said width whereby to press against said side wall and securesaid shank in position therewith.

7. A- locking device comprising a channel member having a web section,provided with a notch, and with said web section terminating in fixedparallel opposed side walls, a port in one of said side walls, a shankhaving a front wall provided with an aperture, a finger, a vertical ear,a tab aligned and located in said notch and two oppositely locatedhorizontal ears engaging, respectively, said parallel opposed sidewalls, said finger and said vertical ear forming a second pocket, saidshank overlying said web section, a pair of legs extending readwardly ofsaid shank, the rear terminal edges of said legs being upturned toprovide a pair of spaced posts, with a first pocket between saidvertical ear and said posts, a resilient fastener positioned in saidfirst pocket, the straight line distance between the ends of saidresilient fastener being greater than the width distance between saidfixed parallel opposed side walls, whereby to press against saidparallel opposed side Walls to secure said resilient member and saidshank to said channel member, and a resilient U shaped member havingopposed legs resiliently engageable with, respectively, the internalsurfaces of said fixed parallel opposed side walls, a catch and arelease bar formed in one of said opposed legs, said catch in alignmentwith said aperture and said release bar aligned with said port, saidresilient U shaped member overlying said shank and located in saidsecond pocket and retained in operative position therein by said finger.

8. A locking device comprising a channel member having a web sectionprovided with a notch and with said web section terminating in fixedparallel opposed side walls, a shank having a front wall provided withan aperture, a finger, a vertical car, a tab aligned and located in saidnotch and two oppositely located horizontal ears engaging, respectively,said fixed parallel opposed side walls, said finger and said verticalear forming a second pocket, said shank overlying said web section, apair of legs extending rearwardly of said shank, the rear terminal edgesof said legs being upturned to provide a pair of spaced posts with afirst pocket between said vertical ear and said pair of spaced posts, aresilient fastener positioned in said first pocket, the straight linedistance between the ends of said resilient fastener being greater thanthe width distance between said fixed parallel opposed side walls,whereby to press against said parallel opposed side walls to secure saidresilient member and said shank to said channel member, and an elongatedplate provided with a window on one end and a tongue provided with arecess on the other end, said elongated plate overlies said shank withsaid finger projecting through said window thereby providing means tofasten said elongated plate to said shank, said tongue located in saidaperture in operative position to receive a companion locking member.

9. A locking device for securing a component to a member comprising aweb section having a pair of oppositely located notches and havingopposed, fixed, parallel side walls defining a channel with a frontopening, a shank provided with a forward wall having an aperture and apair of oppositely located tabs adapted to mate with said pair ofoppositely located notches, means securing said components to said shankin register with said aperture, a resilient fastener having oppositeends disposed at a distance greater than the distance between saidopposed side walls, the straight line distance between the ends of saidresilient fastener being greater than said width, means securing saidresilient fastener to said shank, whereby said opposite ends press,respectively, against said opposed side walls when moved in a directioninto said channel away from said front opening to position said shank insaid channel, said opposite ends opposing movement of said shank in adirection toward said front opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 882,001 3/1908 Gilman 287-20921,083,697 1/ 1914 Neptune 287--20.92 2,045,282 6/ 1936 Metcalf 63-72,255,008 9/1941 Hargreaves 63--7 F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner.

1. A METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING A BRACELET OR THE LIKE COMPRISING, PROVIDING A PAIR OF MATING GENERALLY SEMICIRCULAR CHANNEL MEMBERS HAVING OPPOSITELY DISPOSED SIDE WALLS, FRONTAL OPENINGS AND REAR SECTIONS, HINGING SAID PAIR OF MEMBERS TOGETHER AT THE RESPECTIVE REAR SECTIONS, PROVIDING A PAIR OF SHANKS, EACH HAVING A RADIUS OF CURVATURE CONFORMING TO THE CURVATURE OF SAID CHANNEL MEMBERS, PROVIDING A FRONT WALL PORTION AT THE FRONT EDGE OF EACH SHANK OF SUFFICIENT DIMENSION TO OCCUPY THE FULL FRONTAL OPENING OF EACH SAID CHANNEL MEMBER, PROVIDING AN APERTURE THROUGH EACH FRONT WALL PORTION, MOUNTING A CATCH ON ONE OF SAID SHANKS IN ALIGNMENT WITH ITS RESPECTIVE APERTURE, PROVIDING A CATCH RECEIVER ON THE OTHER OF SAID SHANKS, PROVIDING A POCKET ADJACENT THE REAR EDGE OF EACH SAID SHANK, SEATING A RESILIENT FASTENER ELEMENT OF GREATER LENGTH THAN THE WIDTH BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS, THE STRAIGHT LINE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE ENDS OF EACH FASTENER BEING GREATER THAN SAID WIDTH; IN EACH SAID POCKET, AND FINALLY PRESSING EACH SAID SHANK INTO A RESPECTIVE CHANNEL MEMBER UNTIL EACH SAID FRONT WALL PORTION OCCUPIES ITS RESPECTIVE FRONTAL OPENING, WHEREBY SAID CATCH IS DISPOSED IN REGISTER WITH SAID CATCH RECEIVER AND EACH SAID FASTENER ELEMENT PRESSES AGAINST THE SIDE WALLS OF ITS RESPECTIVE CHANNEL MEMBER TO LOCK EACH SAID SHANK IN ITS CHANNEL MEMBER.
 3. IN A DEVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, A PAIR OF MATING GENERALLY SEMI-CIRCULAR MEMBERS HAVING OPPOSING SIDE WALLS, A WEB SECTION JOINING SAID SIDE WALLS TO DEFINE A CHANNEL BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS, EACH SAID CHANNEL HAVING A FRONT OPENING AND REAR END, HINGE MEANS JOINING SAID MEMBERS TOGETHER AT THEIR RESPECTIVE REAR ENDS, A SEPARATE SHANK POSITIONED IN EACH SAID CHANNEL PROXIMATE TO THE FRONT OPENING OF EACH SAID MEMBER, EACH SHANK HAVING A FRONT WALL PORTION OF DIMENSION FULLY OCCUPYING A RESPECTIVE FRONT OPENING OF SAID MEMBER, EACH SAID FRONT WALL PORTION HAVING AN APERTURE THEREIN, A CATCH MOUNTED ON ONE OF SAID SHANKS IN ALIGNMENT WITH ONE OF SAID APERTURES, A TONGUE CONNECTED TO THE OTHER OF SAID SHANKS AND PROTRUDING THROUGH THE APERTURE IN THE FRONT WALL PORTION THEREOF, A CATCH RECEIVER FORMED IN THE FORWARD END OF SAID TONGUE, A POCKET FORMED AT THE END OF EACH SHANK REMOTE FROM SAID FRONT WALL PORTION, A RESILIENT FASTENER POSITIONED IN EACH POCKET, EACH SAID FASTENER BEING OF GREATER LENGTH THAN THE WIDTH BETWEEN THE ADJACENT SIDE WALLS, THE STRAIGHT LINE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE ENDS OF EACH SAID FASTENER BEING GREATER THAN SAID WIDTH, WHEREBY SAID FASTENER PRESSES AGAINST SAID SIDE WALLS TO LOCK EACH SAID SHANK IN ITS RESPECTIVE MEMBER, SAID CATCH AND CATCH RECEIVER BEING IN REGISTER TO INTERCONNECT SAID MATING MEMBERS WHEN SAID PAIR OF MEMBERS ARE SQUEEZED TOGETHER, AND MEANS FOR RELEASING SAID CATCH FROM SAID CATCH RECEIVER.
 6. A LOCKING DEVICE FOR SECURING A COMPONENT TO A MEMBER HAVING OPPOSING FIXED PARALLEL SIDE WALLS COMPRISING, AN ELONGATED SHANK, A TAB UPTURNED FROM THE SURFACE OF SAID SHANK FOR ENGAGING WITH SAID COMPONENT TO HOLD SAID COMPONENT ON THE SURFACE OF SAID SHANK, A FRONT WALL FOR SAID SHANK, SAID FRONT WALL HAVING AN APERTURE THERETHROUGH FOR ACCOMMODATING AN OPERATIVE PORTION OF SAID COMPONENT, A PAIR OF LEGS EXTENDING REARWARDLY FROM SAID SHANK, THE REAR TERMINAL EDGES OF SAID LEGS BEING UPTURNED TO PROVIDE A PAIR OF SPACED POSTS, A WEB SECTION SPANNING SAID LEGS, AN EAR UPTURNED FROM SAID WEB SECTION AND DISPOSED FORWARDLY OF SAID LEGS WHEREBY TO DEFINE A POCKET BETWEEN SAID EAR AND SAID POSTS, A RESILIENT FASTENER POSITIONED IN SAID POCKET, SAID RESILIENT FASTENER BEING OF GREATER LENGTH THAN THE WIDTH BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS THE STRAIGHT LINE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE ENDS OF SAID FASTENER BEING GREATER THAN THE SAID WIDTH WHEREBY TO PRESS AGAINST SAID SIDE WALL AND SECURE SAID SHANK IN POSITION THEREWITH. 